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Easykart UK Championship - Round 5

from Adam Jones

Saint Swithin is clearly an Easykart fan. Just twenty four hours before his feast day the rain abated to allow some fabulous racing at Forest Edge last Sunday (15 July). The Cadet heat, won in style by Jenson Murchison, was arguably the class’s best of the season. In Junior, Light and Heavy Zack Nickson, Luca Hirst and Will Smith underlined their obvious talent with unbeatable performances. Not that any of the races had a dull moment, at all…

Cadet
With points-leader Sam Faulkner absent, the door was flung wide open for his rivals to capitalise. Jenson Murchison - who had been the driver to beat after qualifying, the heat and pre-final - led from pole position, but could not resist the intense pressure from Ethan Hawkey. Using his superior corner exit speed, Hawkey swept to the front of the field. Two laps later, at the Bus Stop, Jenson deftly re-passed Ethan. His substantial of eight tenths lead evaporated in the sun when a backmarker baulked him and Hawkey, seeing his chance, pounced. A battle royal commenced as Bailey Campbell and Adam Sparrow joined the leaders’ scrap, but Hawkey was not going to be denied his maiden victory.

Above: Ethan Hawkey takes a narrow maiden victory over Jenson Murchison in Cadets
pic - Enver Meyer Photography

Junior
Zack Nickson had been threatening to deliver the outstanding performance he delivered at Forest Edge for some time. Thanassi Barnicoat pushed him hard in the early stages as championship leader, and Nickson’s ATPC team-mate - James Lay - recovered from a scruffy start and losing two places at Turn One. Zack’s set-up delivered him more ‘waft’ as the race developed and he opened a sizeable gap, aided by James and Thanassi’s fight over 2nd. Once clear of Lay, Barnicoat took big chunks out of Nickson’s lead with each remaining lap. However, such was his advantage, that Zack was able to coolly take the chequered flag nearly four seconds clear of Barnicoat. Lay’s 3rd-place came under intense scrutiny from both Jack Golding and Callum Croxon in the closing stages, but try as they might James was not to be denied his fourth podium of the season, or his place at the top of the points table.

Above: Zack Nickson reigned supreme over his junior rivals
pic - Enver Meyer Photography

Light
Luca Hirst was in sparkling form, topping the results sheets throughout the day. By the time the main final got underway he was looking invincible and duly drove off into the near distance. Jake Hughes gave chase, but the in-form Richard Moxom passed him with a deft and incisive manoeuvre as they turned onto the start/finish straight. Ben Dimelow, brother of previous race-winner Sam, entertained with a stirring drive, passing current World Heavy Champion Barnaby Pittingale for 7th place with a superbly judged move at Tollys Bend. The race became a finely balanced contest as the top four pushed and responded to each other. Hirst and Moxom both recorded their fastest laps on the thirteenth tour, whilst Hughes and Grant Hunter posted theirs on lap nine - but as it was, none had an answer for the reigning Easykart World Finals champion, Hirst.

Above: Light World Champion Luca Hirst was unbeatable
pic - Enver Meyer Photography

Heavy
An often bad-tempered and somewhat fraught contest saw plenty of action in the midfield. At the front, Will Smith was in a class of his own, but Joe Paterson fought like a lion to keep his championship rival within touching distance on the track and points table. So much so that he was given two contact warnings in the opening laps as the drivers refused to give each other any quarter or space. A race of attrition developed as crashes, thrown chains and dislodged airboxes took their toll. Matt Brooks, Stig Elboth and Jerry Pack collided at Haynes Loop, leaving all three temporarily stranded on the circuit and Brooks permanently out of the race. Meanwhile, Smith was given no breathing space as Paterson maintained his relentless pursuit. Even so, Smith had enough in hand to win by over one second, with 2010 Forest Edge winner Mark Lawrence out-foxing Roland Breadner for 3rd.

Above: This is the closest rivals got to Will Smith in Heavy
pic - Enver Meyer Photography

Whilton Mill hosts next month’s crucial double-header on 11/12 August. Saturday sees the International circuit configuration being used with the shorter, classic Zulu track employed on Sunday

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	Easykart UK Championship - Round 5 Tweet from Adam Jones Saint Swithin is clearly an Easykart fan. Just twenty four hours before his feast day the rain abated to allow some fabulous racing at Forest Edge last Sunday (15 July). The Cadet heat, won in style by Jenson Murchison, was arguably the class’s best of the season. In Junior, Light and Heavy Zack Nickson, Luca Hirst and Will Smith underlined their obvious talent with unbeatable performances. Not that any of the races had a dull moment, at all… Cadet With points-leader Sam Faulkner absent, the door was flung wide open for his rivals to capitalise. Jenson Murchison - who had been the driver to beat after qualifying, the heat and pre-final - led from pole position, but could not resist the intense pressure from Ethan Hawkey. Using his superior corner exit speed, Hawkey swept to the front of the field. Two laps later, at the Bus Stop, Jenson deftly re-passed Ethan. His substantial of eight tenths lead evaporated in the sun when a backmarker baulked him and Hawkey, seeing his chance, pounced. A battle royal commenced as Bailey Campbell and Adam Sparrow joined the leaders’ scrap, but Hawkey was not going to be denied his maiden victory. Above: Ethan Hawkey takes a narrow maiden victory over Jenson Murchison in Cadets pic - Enver Meyer Photography Junior Zack Nickson had been threatening to deliver the outstanding performance he delivered at Forest Edge for some time. Thanassi Barnicoat pushed him hard in the early stages as championship leader, and Nickson’s ATPC team-mate - James Lay - recovered from a scruffy start and losing two places at Turn One. Zack’s set-up delivered him more ‘waft’ as the race developed and he opened a sizeable gap, aided by James and Thanassi’s fight over 2nd. Once clear of Lay, Barnicoat took big chunks out of Nickson’s lead with each remaining lap. However, such was his advantage, that Zack was able to coolly take the chequered flag nearly four seconds clear of Barnicoat. Lay’s 3rd-place came under intense scrutiny from both Jack Golding and Callum Croxon in the closing stages, but try as they might James was not to be denied his fourth podium of the season, or his place at the top of the points table. Above: Zack Nickson reigned supreme over his junior rivals pic - Enver Meyer Photography Light Luca Hirst was in sparkling form, topping the results sheets throughout the day. By the time the main final got underway he was looking invincible and duly drove off into the near distance. Jake Hughes gave chase, but the in-form Richard Moxom passed him with a deft and incisive manoeuvre as they turned onto the start/finish straight. Ben Dimelow, brother of previous race-winner Sam, entertained with a stirring drive, passing current World Heavy Champion Barnaby Pittingale for 7th place with a superbly judged move at Tollys Bend. The race became a finely balanced contest as the top four pushed and responded to each other. Hirst and Moxom both recorded their fastest laps on the thirteenth tour, whilst Hughes and Grant Hunter posted theirs on lap nine - but as it was, none had an answer for the reigning Easykart World Finals champion, Hirst. Above: Light World Champion Luca Hirst was unbeatable pic - Enver Meyer Photography Heavy An often bad-tempered and somewhat fraught contest saw plenty of action in the midfield. At the front, Will Smith was in a class of his own, but Joe Paterson fought like a lion to keep his championship rival within touching distance on the track and points table. So much so that he was given two contact warnings in the opening laps as the drivers refused to give each other any quarter or space. A race of attrition developed as crashes, thrown chains and dislodged airboxes took their toll. Matt Brooks, Stig Elboth and Jerry Pack collided at Haynes Loop, leaving all three temporarily stranded on the circuit and Brooks permanently out of the race. Meanwhile, Smith was given no breathing space as Paterson maintained his relentless pursuit. Even so, Smith had enough in hand to win by over one second, with 2010 Forest Edge winner Mark Lawrence out-foxing Roland Breadner for 3rd. Above: This is the closest rivals got to Will Smith in Heavy pic - Enver Meyer Photography Whilton Mill hosts next month’s crucial double-header on 11/12 August. Saturday sees the International circuit configuration being used with the shorter, classic Zulu track employed on Sunday Home
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